Concept note for the 2010 ATPS Annual Conference & Workshop tagged The State of Science, Technology and Innovation in Africa: Implications for Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 1 Background: The Millennium Declaration set 2015 as the target date for achieving most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which established quantitative benchmarks to halve extreme poverty in all its forms. As the date approaches, the world finds itself mired in an economic, social, and environmental crisis that is unprecedented in its severity and global dimensions. Incidentally, Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) underpin every one of the MDGs and hence become prerequisites for development. Abundant evidences show that countries that deliberately invested in science and technology have gained much success in improving the quality of life of their citizens. The deliberate investment in STI is, therefore seen as one of the most crucial priorities for any country to realize its short term, medium term and longterm development objectives. This is because STI are now universally recognized as the drivers of national economic development, and key contributors to poverty reduction, disease prevention, universal education, environmental conservation, and global partnerships which are the key focus of the MDGs. Africa, replete with abundant natural resources, intellectual capital, indigenous knowledge and culture has a comparative disadvantage in overall development because of poor governance and political instability; conflicts; low human capacity and outputs; escalating growth in population; food insecurity; poverty; malnutrition and disease; and most importantly, low science and technological investment. The continent has most often adopted a short term view to human development and has continued to rely on external financial support often targeting short-term activities and solutions. As a result, the continent has failed to invest adequately in science, technology and innovation as sources and drivers of economic growth and long term sustainable development. This is evident in Africa s low and declining public expenditure on research and development (R&D) which has made Africa lag behind in key science, technology and innovation indicators. It becomes imperative therefore to review the state of STI in the continent with a view to identifying existing gaps and most importantly charting a proactive way forward for achieving sustainable development in Africa through investments in STI. Strengthening capacity in STI through investments in research and development by African countries can lead to the much desired sustainable development. This can be achieved through policies, programmes, institutions and partnerships. The conference will therefore offer opportunity for stakeholders to deliberate on the following interlinking sub-themes for STI development in Africa: i. Existing policies, legal frameworks and governance structures on STI across countries in Africa ii. STI investment portfolio across Africa iii. Barriers to R&D in Africa iv. Inventory of STI capabilities across Africa v. Evidence-based STI response strategies to global challenges such as climate change, financial crisis, food crisis and poverty. vi. Current initiatives and projects in STI in Africa Concept Note & Call for Abstracts 2010 ATPS Annual Conference & Workshop Page 1 of 6
vii. viii. Perspectives and strategies for strengthening STI capabilities in Africa Emerging organizations and institutions driving STI development in Africa. 2 Conference date and venue: The conference will be held from 25 27 November 2010 in Cairo, Egypt. 3 Conference objectives: The overall purpose of the conference is to examine the state of Science, Technology and Innovation in Africa and derive implications for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Specifically, the conference aims to: i. apprise African Policymakers, Science Experts, Private Sector Actors, and Civil Society on the current state of STI in Africa; ii. equip African Policymakers, Science Experts, Private Sector Actors, and Civil Society with the necessary skills for the formulation and implementation of an integrated STI policy responses to the current global challenges, and better understanding of the implications of no action. iii. build a network of experts across Africa who can provide genuine leadership and direction for enduring STI development in their respective countries and regions; iv. equip delegates with the necessary information for active participation in strategic global dialogues on relevant STI policy issues such as climate change, global food crisis, biodiversity and ecosystems services, global financial crisis and other response strategies, etc; v. popularise the concepts of socialisation of Scientific and Technological Research (STR) in Africa; vi. popularise the need for building Responsible National Systems of Innovation as bedrocks for STI development in African countries; vii. initiate process towards building framework for innovation through enhancing intellectual property rights and knowledge appropriation strategies in Africa; viii. inform strategic inter-ministerial, trans-disciplinary, inter-sectoral, and international collaboration and knowledge sharing in addressing the challenges of low investment in STI in Africa and its implications for achieving the MDGs; and ix. launch the following ongoing STI response actions by the ATPS and its partners, including: a. The Biennial Report on STI in Africa b. The African Manifesto for Science Technology and Innovation c. The Climate Change Innovation Award 4 Expected outcomes: i. A clear understanding of the current state of STI in Africa by relevant stakeholders, including the existing gaps and the way forward towards realizing the MDGs. ii. A clear understanding of the roles of relevant stakeholders in ensuring that an enduring development is achieved in Africa through STI. Concept Note & Call for Abstracts 2010 ATPS Annual Conference & Workshop Page 2 of 6
iii. The formation of key STI stakeholder network across Africa that could support development initiatives in the sector from among the policy makers, science experts, private sectors and the civil society. iv. Launching of the initiative on Biennial Report on STI in Africa, The African Manifesto for STI and the Climate Change Innovation Award. v. A peer reviewed conference proceedings published as a book. 5 Conference methodology: The conference will last for three (3) days and will adopt a dynamic participatory process so as to encourage networking, knowledge circulation and collaborative strategic planning: Plenary Sessions, involving keynote lectures by selected international experts in the different thematic areas, followed by facilitated brainstorming sessions to fill knowledge gaps and address questions arising; Facilitated Parallel Breakout Sessions, for presentations by invited participants based on the conference sub-themes and ATPS strategic activity lines; Plenary Participatory Dialogue to frame common response strategies; research and policy priorities and way forward for realizing Africa s development through STI. 6 Call for Papers: Papers are invited from our range of stakeholders including policy makers, private sectors, science experts, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, farmers associations, etc that will address any of the following conference sub-themes: i. Governance of science, technology and innovation in Africa: Papers under this subtheme should address issues of policies and legal frameworks necessary for Africa s development through STI. It also covers the new policy directions required to respond to a changing world; examining the national systems of innovation; research and innovation policy; labour market and higher education policy; the governance of innovation and international policy advice that is reshaping the contours of STI governance in Africa. ii. iii. Investments in research and development (R&D) in Africa: Papers under this subtheme should address issues of R&D investments by both governments and private sectors. It includes policy and institutional mechanisms necessary for domestic R&D and Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) as a carrier of new scientific knowledge and related technological innovations; role of collaboration between universities, private sectors and research in fostering innovation. It will also include the challenges to R&D investments in Africa and the way forward. STI indicators: Papers under this sub-theme should emphasize the numerous indicators for measuring science, technology and innovation and the status of countries in Africa. It covers the scientometric analysis based mainly on bibliometric (number of publications) and patent indicators. It should provide comparisons of STI indicators between Africa, the rest of the developing societies and the developed Concept Note & Call for Abstracts 2010 ATPS Annual Conference & Workshop Page 3 of 6
societies. It should emphasize on the roles of the African STI Observatory, African STI Indicators Initiative in defining Africa s common STI Indicators. iv. STI and development in Africa: Papers under this sub-theme should address the current status of STI across African countries and develop scenarios for future developments in the sector. It covers the innovative approaches in tackling STI challenges; current role of scientific community in Africa - gaps/challenges in S&T development in the continent, major S&T issues on the continent, way forward; ICT role for advancing S&T in Africa - roadmap, opportunities, challenges; issues related to access to scientific knowledge - status of access, limitations to access, areas concerned; requirements for sustainable STI in African including research, publications, patents, resources, management, etc. v. The role of Youth and Women in STI for development: Papers under this sub-theme should address the roles of women and youths in STI development in Africa. This will cover issues on STI enrolments in schools by gender; gender equity efforts in science and technology education and future directions for research; features of educational innovation and teachers work that affect attempts to achieve such equity; challenges and opportunities for women and youth participation in STI in Africa; and gender mainstreaming in STI for Africa s development. vi. Knowledge management and intellectual property rights (IPR) and STI development: Papers under this sub-theme should address issues on how to harness science and technology for sustainable development through the protection of intellectual capital and the access to technology and innovations. It covers areas such as the traditional knowledge system; the framework for ensuring that local people share in the benefits arising from the appropriation and use of their knowledge and of the biological resources of their environment; the international agreements on IPR for STI development; policy and institutional issues for STI development in Africa; and standards, norms, guidelines and options, which African countries can rely on for protecting their indigenous knowledge, technological know-how and biological resources for economic growth and sustainable development. 7 Submission guidelines: We particularly invite contributions to the Conference that address the above sub-themes from an interdisciplinary approach. i. Abstracts: Abstracts of between 350-500 words are invited from prospective conference participants. The abstracts should contain the title of the paper, name(s) of the author(s), affiliation(s), contact information, 5 keywords, and biographical notes of author(s). Authors are also invited to indicate the conference sub-theme pertaining to their papers. All abstracts will be anonymously evaluated by the Conference Technical Committee on the basis of the following criteria: originality and creativity; clarity of content; contribution to the knowledge base/evidence base; linking practice, policy and research; relevance and timeliness in terms of findings and conclusions. Abstracts will also be selected based on their relevance to one or more of the conference hot topics. A book of selected Abstracts will be published and made Concept Note & Call for Abstracts 2010 ATPS Annual Conference & Workshop Page 4 of 6
available during the conference. The deadline for the submission of abstract is on 10 October 2010. All submissions should be made to: atpsconferences@atpsnet.org. ii. Full paper submission: Candidates whose abstracts are selected are expected to submit their full papers by 10 November 2010. The papers shall be evidence-based and can be theoretical, empirical or policy oriented, and can approach the issues from a range of disciplinary perspectives or trans-disciplinary perspectives. Papers submitted will be peerreviewed for originality, technical and research contents, depth, correctness, relevance to conference themes, contributions to knowledge, readability, etc. The format for the submission of all papers is: Word range is 4000-6000 words, A4 Word, one column, 12pt Times New Roman font, 1.5 spaces, margins width (2 cm if possible). Papers shall include the following: Title of the paper, Full name(s) of the author(s), Contact details, Abstract (250 words), 5 Keywords. All submissions should be made to: atpsconferences@atpsnet.org. 8 Conference Language: The official languages of the Conference are English, French and Arabic. However, submission of papers has to be in English only. Simultaneous interpretations during the Conference will be ensured. 9 Conference Proceedings: Selected papers will be considered for publication as a book. This book will be extensively reviewed to meet all the scientific requirements and add value to existing STI knowledge base in Africa. 10 Conference Homepage: The ATPS website is http://www.atpsnet.org while the conference website is http://www.atpsnet.org/conferences/index.php. 11 Summary of Conference schedule: Dates Activities 1 September 2010 Announcement of the call for papers 10 October 2010 Deadline for Abstracts 15 October 2010 Notification of Abstract Acceptance 10 November 2010 Deadline for the submission of Full Papers to be considered for publication 12 Registration: All attending conference participants are required to register and at least one author per paper must attend. Conference registration conditions vary depending on the origin and quality of delegates and the package chosen. However, online registration is open until 30 October 2010 at: http://www.atpsnet.org/about/conference/index.php. Concept Note & Call for Abstracts 2010 ATPS Annual Conference & Workshop Page 5 of 6
13 Funding possibilities: Conference registration is absolutely free. However, delegates will be responsible for their travel, accommodation and subsistence during the conference period. The ATPS plans to support the participation of about 150 pre-selected delegates including ATPS officials and key stakeholders: delegates from its Regional Council members; International Responsible STI Council members; National Chapter Coordinators/Focal Points; Secretariat Staff; Program Regional and National Steering Committee members; AWFST Executives; AYFST Executives; Program Coordinators; selected Policy-Makers from the 29 countries where ATPS has national chapters; Keynote Speakers; and Resource Persons only. Some of the most outstanding abstracts received will also receive financial support to for their participation in the conference covering their travel, accommodation & subsistence only. All funded delegates will receive formal travel grant agreements with details of the sponsorship offered to them prior to the conference. 14 Exhibition and other activities: An exhibition will be organized alongside in the Conference Venue. To exhibit at the conference, Exhibitors need to apply ahead of time to atpsconferences@atpsnet.org. Spaces for exhibition will be very limited and will be based on first come first served. Target Exhibitors will be on innovative approaches for tackling Africa s development challenges through STI including food insecurity, climate change, financial crisis, poverty and diseases. 15 Visits: Visits will be arranged to Egyptian historic places including the Museum, Pyramids, etc but will be self-funded and strictly be on private basis. 16 Contacts: Executive Conference Organizing Committee African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) 3 rd Floor, The Chancery, Valley Road P.O. Box 10081-00100 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 20 2714092 Fax: +254 20 2714028 Email: atpsconferences@atpsnet.org Website: http://www.atpsnet.org/conferences/index.php Skype: ATPS Network Concept Note & Call for Abstracts 2010 ATPS Annual Conference & Workshop Page 6 of 6